The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-02
ONLY A LITTLE THING.
BY SIDNEY DAYRE.

"'FOrbearlng one announcer IN love.
Kindly affectioned one toward another
It sounds very nice to talk about, but 1
wonder if many people really do it. 1t
would be great deal nicer world il they
did. I don't see how / could do it very
we'll. Sam is always go Cross and dis
agreeable it wouldn't do bit of good to
try to be kind to him. He wouldn't even
notice it, and never would think of being
kind to me. But Miss Hale talked about
our being kind, no matter if any one was
kind to us or not"
Ellen was walking home from Sunday
school, musing on what she had heard
there. She was not very happy at home.
No one there seemed to care whether she
was or not, and the years of her child
hood had been passing without much
thought of it on her own part. But she
was getting less and less satisfied with
herself as well as with her surroundings,
and some of the things she had lately
heard were leading her to think seriously
upon the possibility OF her troubles be-
ing made any lighter.
"Wait minute, Het." She turned at
the sound of voices behind her and saw
Harry Vane running to catch up with his
little sister.
Here" he said, breathlessly, holding
out to her his Bible, Sunday school book
and loose paper or two. "Take these
home. Tell mother Tn gone down to
the Y. M. O. A. rooms to see some pict-
ures of Jerusalem they've got there. 1
want you to carry my books
'But / don't see how can," said Het-
ty, as she hastily piled his things upon
her small hands, already well filled with
her own books.
so, you're clumsyp he exclaimed, i'm
patiently, as her Bible fell upon The pave
ment. "Tell mother I'll soon be home
And he was off without waiting to see
how she could get along with all she had
to carry.
Ellen turned to help Hetty, expecting
to hear petulant complaint against Har-
ry, as she picked up her nicely bound BIZ
BILE and carefully wiped it with her hand
kerehief.
But Hetty did not say anything except
to remark that it was birthday present,
and she was trying to keep it very nice.
"Pll help you carry your books" said
Ellen. ST think it was mean OF Harry to
treat you So"
co." said Hetty, with a smile, che
didn't stop to think. Boys don't, you
know. But mother says the best wey to
make them think is to be forbearing with
them, as Miss Hale said just now. And
she says" little Hetty's voice grew more
sober, "that sister can have great in
huence over brother by being kind to
him, and that we never know when such
an influence may be of great use when
they are older. She says brother ought
to think his sister the dearest and sweet
est thing in the world, except, of course,
his mother. Good-bye-thank you for
helping me. I can get along nicely now"
Ellen packed the books on Hetty's arm
so that she could easily carry them, and
then went on by herself, still thinking. 1t
was easy to be obliging to Hetty, for
Hetty was always so pleasant herself. 1t
was a very different thing to try to be
kind to peeyish, disobliging Sam.
But surely it was not "forbearing" to
be kind only to those who were agree
able.
80 dearp sighed Ellen, with tears very
near her eyes. 81 wish my mother was
here. Things are SO much easier when
girls have mother"
Sam came home from school at noon
the next day, and entered the dining room
with the rough manner and the sullen
look which had grown upon him until
they seemed to belong with him. Help
ing himself without regard to any one
else, he was beginning an ample dinner
when his father arose hastily, looking at
his watch as he said:
81 have to take run down to Hartley
on the 80 train. 1 can barely make it,
and-here, Sam, want you to hurry to
the post-office with this letter. 1t is i'm
portant that it should catch the early af-
ternoon mail. Quick, nowp
"Can't I eat my dinner frst?" asked
Sam.
NO." he said, little impatiently, al
though not unkindly, "boys mustn't be
too anxious about their dinners. Be off
at once, and eat when you come back"
Sam was very hungry, and looked rue
fully at his plate as he took the letter and
hurried away, knowing that his fathers
commands must be promptly obeyed. He
felt sure that there would be little COM
fort in his meal when he should return
from the long walk. Susan, the girl, was
always very busy and always rather
cross on Monday. She would eat her
own dinner and then leave the table until
she was done washing, and Sans dinner
would be cold aud uninviting.
Ellen looked after him as he passed the
window. His face was, if possible, more
sour and peevish than usual, and for q
pnnnnanf sha falk aa If ha 1eservad any